L.A. Now - Orange County

Fire weather expected in Inland Empire, San Diego

The Inland Empire and much of San Diego County are expected to be under a red-flag warning Sunday morning through Monday night, signaling critical fire conditions, the National Weather Service said. High pressure over the Western United States is expected...

EMT convicted of raping intoxicated patient in Mission Viejo hospital

An emergency medical technician, or EMT, was convicted Friday of raping a female patient in a hospital room while she was unable to resist due to intoxication, authorities said. Jesse Karim Pena, 32, of Winchester was sentenced to three years...

Metrolink board delays decision on fare hike after thousands protest

Faced with strong opposition from riders and questions about agency finances, the board of Southern California’s commuter rail agency today postponed a decision on a proposed 6% fare increase just three months after the last rate hike. After receiving protests...

Scores of O.C. teens picked up in 'scared straight' curfew sweep

Sixty-seven underage Orange County teens were rounded up in a massive countywide curfew sweep late Thursday in an effort by dozens of law enforcement agencies to scare the after-hours wanderers straight. The teens, who ranged in age from 13 to...

Huntington Beach police seek groping man

Huntington Beach police are searching for a man who has followed women home from the downtown Main Street nightlife district and groped them, said Lt. Mike Reynolds. Four women have reported similar late-night incidents since August, and police are particularly...

Orange County unveils ambitious brush-fire warning system, a year after devastating blaze

Orange County today will unveil an ambitious fire warning system designed to better alert residents to the danger of brush fires. The new program, called OC Fire Watch, comes a year after the massive Freeway Complex fire swept through Yorba...

Construction on first phase of Orange County Great Park approved

After years of planning, the Orange County Great Park will take shape — at least initially — as a far more modest spread than the facility supporters once vowed would rank among America’s great municipal parks. The Irvine City Council...

Boat caught under freeway bridge in Orange County

An L.A. County Sheriff’s Department boat being hauled on a trailer became trapped under a freeway bridge in Orange County today, police said. The 55-foot boat was being towed on City Drive in Orange at 11:20 a.m. when it reached...

Boat captain won't face charges in death of 11-year-old junior lifeguard

Orange County prosecutors have decided not to file charges against a marine safety officer whose boat struck and killed Huntington Beach junior lifeguard Allyssa Squirrell. Authorities determined the incident was an accident. The accident occurred in July when 11-year-old Allyssa...

Irvine man pleads guilty to killing motorcyclist in 2005 while driving under the influence

An Irvine man who fled to South Korea to avoid arrest pleaded guilty today to killing a motorcyclist while under the influence of alcohol. Youn Bum Lee, 42, killed Ryan Dallas Cook in October 2005 while Cook was riding his...

Man found floating facedown in Newport Harbor

A 49-year-old man was found floating in Newport Harbor this morning and was pronounced dead soon after at a local hospital, authorities said. Two kayakers found the man, fully clothed and facedown in the water, shortly before 7 a.m. near...

Garden Grove mechanic sentenced for sexual assaults

A Garden Grove auto mechanic who sexually assaulted five women after luring them into a service pit under the pretense of showing them needed repairs was sentenced today to 14 years in state prison, according to the Orange County district...

Man, adult son are killed by freight train in Fullerton [Updated]

A man and his son who were train-spotting in Fullerton were struck by a freight train and killed Wednesday night, authorities said. About 11:15 p.m., a freight train was traveling near the train depot at North Harbor Boulevard and West...

Two pedestrians killed after being hit by train in Fullerton

Two pedestrians were killed after being hit by a freight train in Fullerton on Wednesday night, according to Fullerton police, who are continuing their investigation today. Police received a call from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway at about 11:20 p.m.,...

Owners of Gardena maid service taken into custody, ordered to pay back wages

The owners of a Gardena maid service were taken into custody after failing to comply with a court order to pay $3.5 million in back wages plus interest, fines and liquidated damages to more than 385 workers. Sergio Maldonado and...

Top official stole from children's center, bought a pool, went shopping

The former chief financial officer of Orange County’s Orangewood Children’s Foundation was convicted today of stealing more than $780,000 from the nonprofit for abused children. Tracy Lynn Salcido, 40, pleaded guilty in Orange County Superior Court to 206 felony counts...

Off-duty L.A. County sheriff's deputy fires at suspect in robbery attempt in Westminster

An off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy fired shots at a suspect who brandished a gun during an attempted robbery this morning at an ATM in Westminster, police said. The suspect escaped, police said, and it was unclear whether...

One of California's toughest commutes getting relief with 91 Freeway widening

One of Southern California’s toughest commutes is about to get somewhat easier. Officials Tuesday will break ground on a $59.5-million project to widen the eastbound 91 Freeway with the hopes of easing congestion for commuters along the heavily traveled stretch...

FBI clears former Assemblyman Mike Duvall

Former Assemblyman Mike Duvall of Yorba Linda will not face any federal charges after an FBI investigation into his comments, made over an open microphone, that he had a sexual relationship with a woman who was widely believed to be...

Music teacher pleads not guilty to indecent exposure

An Orange County middle school teacher pleaded not guilty today to charges that he exposed himself to a receptionist during his son's dental appointment one day and to a fellow teacher at a school event on another day. Mark Gerard...

'Birthers' lawsuit challenging Obama's election is dismissed

The “birthers” lose, again. This morning, a U.S. District Court Judge in Santa Ana dismissed a federal lawsuit challenging President Obama’s election on the grounds he wasn’t born in the U.S.In his opinion, Judge David O. Carter stated that it...

Sex chat number accidentally printed on O.C. elementary school shirts

Officials at a Yorba Linda elementary school have recalled T-shirts given to students after discovering a phone number printed on the shirts was for a sex chat line. A parent informed the district of the phone number -- an 800...

Water main break causes 7-foot sinkhole in Yorba Linda

Crews worked overnight to repair a seven-foot sinkhole caused by a water main rupture in Yorba Linda. The break was reported at 8:45 p.m. Monday near the entrance of a condominium complex at the 19600 block of Castellana Plaza, Orange...

Anaheim substitute teacher arrested for allegedly having sex with student

An Anaheim substitute teacher has been arrested on charges of having sex with an underage student, police said today. Marc Silberman, 27, was arrested Saturday night after a Savanna High School student told police that she had sexual contact with...

Orange County caregiver sentenced for stealing from 92-year-old woman

An Orange County caregiver was sentenced to five years in state prison today for stealing more than $315,000 from a 92-year-old woman. Susana Duran, 38, who lives in Tijuana, commuted daily to take care of the woman at her Laguna...